The Hogwarts Emerald

Chapter 659: Uneasy Voldemort
The slightly dim room was crowded with people kneeling, including core Death Eaters like Bellatrix, as well as dark wizards recruited after Voldemort's return.

When Voldemort led his men to attack Azkaban, he not only rescued the imprisoned Death Eaters, but also rescued a group of dark wizards, who then gathered under his command.

The composition of Death Eaters has always been complex. There are those who follow Voldemort loyally, those who are cowardly and seek shelter, those who are ambitious and want to show off their power, and those who are cruel by nature and follow him in order to commit more violence.

Everyone in the room knelt neatly in a semicircle facing the same direction. Although many of them were trembling, no one dared to make any sound.

Snape was also kneeling, the only difference was that he had a copy of the Daily Prophet in his hand, which he was reading.

"…It is understood that in recognition of Regulus Black's heroic act in resisting 'You-Know-Who', the Ministry of Magic and the Order of Merlin are considering posthumously awarding him the Order of Merlin, First Class…"

After reading the newspaper, Snape knelt like the other Death Eaters, not daring to look at Voldemort who had his back to them.

The atmosphere in the room was extremely depressing. The wizards didn't know why Voldemort was angry, but they knew that the quieter it was at the moment, the more severe the storm would be later.

“Read it again!” Voldemort’s voice was high-pitched and cold, like nails scratching across a blackboard, making people feel uncomfortable from the bottom of their hearts.

"…It is understood that in recognition of Regulus Black's heroic act in resisting 'You-Know-Who', the Ministry of Magic and the Order of Merlin are considering posthumously awarding him the Order of Merlin, First Class…"

Snape read it again, without his special voice, which was just above a whisper. Snape read the contents of the newspaper mechanically and emotionlessly, the contents that angered Voldemort.

Anger and fear burned within Voldemort.

That was the only thing that frightened him - but it couldn't be true, he couldn't understand how it could be... Yes, that was what he should have thought of when he saw Kreacher the house-elf!
Lord Voldemort should have thought of it earlier. The damn house-elf had escaped from the cave. Regulus Black was the elf's master and he would definitely ask Kreacher.

Kreacher, who is bound by the magic of the house-elf, will obey his master's orders unconditionally and answer any questions!
The cave, the locket, the Horcrux, are no longer secrets!

The traitor, Regulus Black, knew Lord Voldemort's secret. Now that secret is known by the foul Esmeralda Drizzt. Who else but her?
"Severus." Voldemort called softly, and the words sounded like the hissing of a snake, making people shudder and shudder.

Snape's body shook involuntarily. He crawled half a body forward and replied in fear, "Yes, my master."

"Tell me, you've been with Albus Dumbledore for so long. Has he ever gotten anything special? Think about it."

When Voldemort was asking questions, the room remained in a chilling silence. The Death Eaters did not dare to look up, and did not even dare to breathe.

There was a rustling sound in the room, and the giant snake Nagini slid past many Death Eaters, coiled around Voldemort's feet, and made a hissing sound that no one could understand.

"Yes, Master, it's the diary you used fifty years ago. Lucius Malfoy stuffed the diary into Ginny Weasley's old book, causing the Chamber of Secrets to be opened that year and releasing the basilisk inside." Snape said truthfully, "The basilisk only petrified a few students and was killed by Dumbledore before it had time to clean the school."

Bellatrix on the side glanced at Snape with resentment. Regulus Black had already appeared, and Snape brought up Lucius Malfoy. They were all her relatives. Isn't this a trap!

Voldemort turned around suddenly, and Bellatrix was so scared that she immediately lowered her head and dared not move.

Voldemort slowly walked to Snape, he knew that the diary was destroyed. Voldemort was unaware of the destruction of the Horcrux, he attributed it to the fact that he was a ghost at the time, so he could not sense its destruction.

Now that Voldemort has regained his body, he still cannot sense whether the Horcruxes have been destroyed, especially the locket that fell into Esmeralda Drizzt's hands.

Snape's answer about the diary was not what Voldemort wanted to hear. He continued, "Anything else, Severus?"

"And... and..." Snape thought carefully for a while before continuing, "It seems there is another ring. Dumbledore went out for a while, and when he came back, there was suddenly a black ring on his hand." "Say it again!" Voldemort's voice became louder and louder, and fear filled his heart. Dumbledore, Dumbledore, that old guy who should have died long ago!
Snape leaned down even lower to look more loyal, and said tremblingly, "A ring, my lord. A black ring, with what appears to be a black stone set in it."

The Horcruxes are Voldemort's hope for immortality - the diary has been destroyed, the locket is in Drizzt's hands, and the Gaunt family ring has been taken away by Dumbledore. Do they know anything else?

"Bella," Voldemort walked up to Bellatrix, "Tell me, have you taken good care of the things I gave you?"

"Master, I - I hid it - just..." Bellatrix said in panic. She didn't know what use the golden cup was to her master. She thought it should be as important as the diary and the ring.

Voldemort raised his hand to stop Bellatrix. The Dark Lord had seen where she had hidden the cup - Gringotts, Lestrange's vault.

It's a clever place.

Even if the Ministry of Magic obeys Drizzt, she is not as pedantic as Dumbledore, but it is still hard to imagine that the Horcruxes would be hidden in Gringotts.

Voldemort had already figured out why the Horcrux had gone wrong.

Dumbledore knew his middle name and could deduce his relationship to the Gaunt family, thus finding the ring hidden in the cabin.

Even without Regulus' betrayal, Dumbledore could have found the cave and the locket based on his life in the orphanage.

The gold cup is hidden in Gringotts, it should be safe, they can't think of it there; the crown is hidden in Hogwarts, even if they know it is in the school, they won't find that place, that is the deepest secret of Hogwarts.

But just in case, Voldemort decided to go and check it out in person. He wanted to ensure the safety of his Horcruxes and Nagini. He must protect Nagini.

But before leaving, there are still some things to take care of.

The people kneeling before him had heard too many secrets. They knew about the diary, the ring, and Gringotts... Only the dead could keep secrets.

The yew wand suddenly appeared in Voldemort's hand, and the wand suddenly chopped down from the air, and a green light sprayed out, killing a kneeling wizard. The rest of the people fled in fear.

Snape and Bellatrix rushed to the door, leaving everyone else behind.

Whoever runs out first at this time will have a chance to survive, while those who stay in the house will only be killed by the angry Voldemort.

The Dark Lord was furious and chopped down with his wand again and again. Nagini also pounced and bit the wizards in the room. Those who did not escape were killed, and no one was left alive.

Standing among the corpses, Voldemort calmed his inner anger, panic and anxiety.

Impossible, how could it be possible! He is the great Lord Voldemort. If the Horcruxes are destroyed, he will definitely sense it. So, they should still be safe.

A hissing sound came from Voldemort's mouth, and the giant snake Nagini immediately slid to his side.

If Ada or Harry were here, they would have heard what Voldemort was saying -

"Someone has discovered our secret, Nagini. I will stop them and kill them all. You must stay with me, not a step away, until I have killed them all."

(End of this chapter)